Mitigation of Salinity Stress in Maize Seedlings by the Application of Vermicompost and Sorghum Water Extracts

Abiotic stresses are important constraints limiting crop productivity worldwide. Salinity is one of the most devastating environmental factors restraining the production of crops. It is urgently needed to search for environmentally safe and sustainable approaches to mitigate the harmful effects of salinity on plants. Hence, applying vermicompost and low-dose aqueous extract of sorghum delivers a pragmatic solution to ameliorate the detrimental outcomes of salinity on maize seedlings (Zea mays L.). The experiment consisted of three factors, each at different levels, i.e., salinity (control, 6, and 12 dS m^-1), vermicompost (control, 5, and 10%), and sorghum water extract (control, 1, and 2%). Higher salt stress negatively influenced the morpho-physiological traits of maize. Nonetheless, applying vermicompost and sorghum water extract at 10% and 2%, respectively, increased tolerance against salinity. The application of 2% sorghum water extract and 10% vermicompost significantly improved morphological characteristics, chlorophyll contents, activities of antioxidant enzymes, leaf and root K⁺/Na⁺ ratio, and K⁺ contents. It decreased Na+ concentration, H₂O₂, and malondialdehyde contents at higher salinity levels. It can be concluded that soil-applied vermicompost and foliar-applied sorghum water extract mitigates the adverse impacts of salinity by activating the antioxidant defense system, improving chlorophyll contents, and reducing the accumulation of Na⁺ under salinity.